Harry and James left the office and began walking through the corridors of the school in silence and it was Harry that broke it.
"I am sorry about all of this" he said genuinely. "I didn't mean for it to happen this way, even though you are taking it well, better than I would be" he finished with a shrug. James paused and looked at the other boy and shook his head.
"It's not your fault, you had it pushed on you just as much as us" he sympathized. "Honestly, it hasn't really sunk in and it will take some getting used to" he admitted. "But it's like Mum said, you're family wherever or whenever you came from" he concluded.
"Well thanks, for being so understanding" Harry replied.
"The one thing Mum always wanted was to have kids" James responded seriously. "She couldn't have anymore after me and she'll never admit it but it's something she never got over, just don't upset her" he implored.
Harry nodded and the two began making their way through the grounds in silence once more. They reached the gates and passed through them before James broke the silence this time. "How're we getting to London?" he asked curiously.
Harry just offered the boy his arm in response.
"You can apparate?" James asked excitedly. "Can you teach me?" he added in a begging tone.
Harry just nodded and grabbed the boy by the shoulders, apparating them away as he did so.
The duo arrived outside the back entrance of the Leaky Cauldron and Harry had to steady the other boy to prevent him from falling over.
"I didn't like that" James stated, looking considerably pale.
"It's better when you do it yourself" Harry explained sympathetically and led the boy through the bar and up to his room.
Harry began putting everything together, making sure he didn't leave anything behind. "How did I end up with Lily?" James asked suddenly.
Harry looked at the boy and sighed.
"Sirius said you grew up, that's all I know", he shrugged.
James nodded his understanding and became lost in his thoughts again.
"And you know Remus…"
"Is a werewolf?" Harry cut in. "Yeah I do" he confirmed, eliciting a sigh of relief from James. "And I know all about Prongs too" he added with a smile.
James's head shot up and he looked at Harry questioningly.
Harry shook his head in amusement and dug into is trunk and removed a battered piece of parchment, passing it to James casually.
"You have the map?" James asked in awe. Harry nodded and reached into the trunk once more, removing a silvery, silky cloak.
"And the cloak?" James added weakly. "Do you have any idea what we could do with two maps and two cloaks" he questioned with wide eyes. "The possibilities are endless" he concluded.
Harry just chuckled knowing that the other boy was already cooking up a pranking spree like Hogwarts had never seen.
"What exactly do you know about Prongs?" James asked curiously after a moment.
Harry just smiled and drew his wand.
"Expecto Patronum" he whispered.
James stared on in awe at the high level of magic he was witnessing and was simply dumbfounded at the sight of his animagus form.
After a few moments Harry ended the spell and James turned to look at him. "I'm your patronus?" he asked weakly.
"Ever since Moony taught me when I was thirteen" Harry responded.
"Thirteen?" James scoffed. "Shit, you must be good" he whispered proudly.
"I had to learn it" Harry replied cryptically.
James nodded.
"You haven't mentioned Wormtail" he pointed out. "I can't imagine not ever being friends with him, what happened? He asked.
Harry swallowed deeply and remembered what Charlus had said. As much as he wanted to get his father away from the rat and kill the bastard he knew it was not his place to interfere, yet.
"It's like your Dad said, I shouldn't say too much, but I will stop anything bad from happening" he promised. James wanted to protest but thought better of it figuring that Harry was probably right in the fact that he probably had an advantage of knowing what was going to happen and if he changed too much it could end up worse than it was before for the boy.
James nodded though Harry could see he was not too happy about it.
"There are things that I won't tell you but you can always ask" he explained sincerely. "If I can't say then please understand it's not that I don't trust you, it's just that you really are better off not knowing" he added.
James nodded his understanding a lot more convincingly now.
"You know, you're going to have to get used to calling them Mum and Dad" he pointed out. "Oh, and I get to be the older brother, it is weird enough as it is without you being older" he finished with a shake of his head. "Agreed" Harry responded instantly.
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